The inquiry into conditions at the custodial homes had been commissioned after 72 boys escaped from the Khyber Pass Observation Home in November 1995. Even as the inquiry was being finalised, the sadistic death of Rohit, a 11-year-old inmate of the Juvenile Home in Lajpat Nagar occurred. ``Such incidents have highlighted the malaise which has crept into the entire system of State-run Homes,'' the report finally stated.

The report of the high-powered committee, headed by Secretary, Social Welfare, reveals that deaths and escapes are a way of life in the custodial homes. Between 1991-95, the 27 custodial homes witnessed 678 deaths and 3,305 escapes. The figures for deaths, annexed with the reports shows that the Home for old beggars, for instance, has a ``capacity'' of 75, but the roll-call of death over five years has been 127 beggars. Among the juvenile institutions, the highest number of reported deaths, is incidentally, in the same Asha Kiran Home for mentally retarded children. Forty-nine children had died during a five-year period.

The figures of escapes from custodial homes are equally shocking. Among the 14 juvenile homes, the home located at G T Road had witnessed the escapes of 334 boys -- higher than its capacity of 300 inmates. Among the Beggars Homes, the largest number of escapes had taken place from the Home in Kingsway Camp, from where 530 beggars, over a 100 a year, had been fleeing.

In an endeavour to stem the rot, the inquiry committee had recommended that the government spent ``at least'' Rs 3 crore annually on the upkeep and maintenance of the homes. In all, the report contained 19 recommendations, which included one for associating NGOs ``actively'' in the running of the homes. The NGOs, the report stated, should be funded by the State and at least one or two non-custodial homes should be handed over to them on an experimental basis.

Besides, it was suggested amendments be made in the 1986 Juvenile Justice Act, to ensure publicity of missing persons; to ensure overage persons are not kept in the homes and to eliminate difficulties regarding bonafide visitors from paying visits to the homes.

Members of the inquiry team had inspected 12 of the 27 homes and given graphic details about the pathetic, unhygienic conditions in which they were being run and the mental and physical agony of the inmates. These are some of the incidents highlighted in the report:

* In the Observation Home for Boys at Khyber Pass, the inquiry team found that 90 per cent of the items like clothing and shoes issued in the names of the inmates had disappeared. Warm clothing had been issued to 47 inmates in winter but had never reached them. A scrutiny of the register showed the receipts were marked with an identical thumb impression.

* In the same home, inmates had directly accused the staff of homosexual abuse and beating. Some of the younger boys testified to the libidinous behavior of the probationary officer of the home and confessed they had been subjected to sodomy. Children also complained that the Deputy Superintendent had been extorting money for meetings with their parents or guardians.

* In the Nari Niketan Home for Women located in the Tihar Jail complex, committee members found that of the 72 girls, 15 were mentally deranged, but there had been no segregation. Healthy girls complained that they were being made to sleep with the unbalanced girls, who defecated and urinated freely on the bed at night. This was despite the fact that the dormitory meant for insane women was much bigger than the other dormitory.

* In the Lajpat Nagar's boys home, where Rohit died, the younger boys were perpetually persecuted by the older ``goons''. Besides, children were found to be making their own breakfast and washing and mopping the floors while the government cooks and sweepers came to work after the chores were complete. The Superintendent had made ``duty charts'' for such work.

Children, in these homes, the report states, have been treated like ``sub-humans'', without dignity, recreation or education. The report ends with what the committee members admit is a ``perverse'' thought: that the homes should be shut down by the government because the innocents living in them would be better outside. From what the inmates are learning and seeing here, the report states, inmates of the 27 homes, are imperceptibly being trained as criminals without qualms of conscience.